Hannah Ramsden

The devoted mum of an “angel” stillborn baby boy has handed over a special cot to help families who experience similar tragedies.

Viki Shaw travelled to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary to officially present the cold cot and wooden crib, which she has tirelessly fund-raised for since {/news/health/local-health/parents-stillborn-son-heartache-1-7386447|Dominic Leo was born last June.

If we hadn’t had the cot, we wouldn’t have had any time to come to terms with it. I want the cot to help other families and I know that it will

Viki

“It was such an emotional day. It was bitter sweet really. It was an absolutely beautiful crib for Dominic. I’d like to thank everybody who’s been involved.” said Viki.

The £1,570 Flexmort cold cot and accompanying £2,000 personalised bespoke wooden crib, which was made by Phil Simpson of Simpson’s Bespoke Furniture in Colne, will allow families to spend more time with their stillborn babies, making memories and saying their goodbyes. Viki said she had intended to provide a cot for Burnley General Hospital but the hospital already had sufficient facilities so instead decided to donate it to Royal Lancaster.

“I have a family link to Lancaster as my brother Dave lives there, he’s doing his PHD at Lancaster University. Also my sister in law Jane Wilding and her friend Hannah Cutler ran the Lancaster half-marathon back in November to help raise funds towards the cold cot and bespoke crib.”

Viki, partner Daniel Lord, who both live in Nelson, and their family and friends have {/news/health/local-health/1-200-raised-in-memory-of-tragic-baby-dominic-1-7505978| raised £6,000 in total towards charities and causes supporting bereaved families since Dominic was born.

Viki, who was full term, had gone into natural labour at home. But once at the Burnley birth centre as her labour progressed midwives told her there was no heartbeat and when Dominic was delivered weighing 9lb. 3oz. sadly he was stillborn.

The family has also donated 12 memory boxes as keepsakes for parents to remember their babies and a selection of knitted baby items.

“When we had Dominic we were given a memory box by another bereaved family who provided them to the hospital and I’m still in touch with that family. I’m so grateful to them for that box.”

“I think the cot has gone to the right place. It will make a really big difference. When we lost Dominic we didn’t expect it to happen, we were in complete shock. If we hadn’t had the cot, we wouldn’t have had any time to come to terms with it and create precious memories. I want the cot to help other families and I know that it will.”

“In the future, I will be continuing to provide memory boxes to the hospital in memory of our precious Dominic.”

Visit the facebook page called Dominic Leo’s Appeal for more information.